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2024 Global Chemical Recycling Plant Counter

Purpose: To document the number and capacity of chemical recycling plants that are operating or have been constructed to process plastic waste into new plastic feedstock and compare to the global generation of plastic waste (per OECD 2024 data).

Summary: The global capacity of all 16 operating and constructed chemical recycling plants is about 0.13% of global plastic waste produced. Operating and constructed chemical recycling plants were only identified in the U.S., EU, and U.K. No plants were identified in other countries or regions.

Why: The plastics and products industries are promoting chemical recycling as a viable solution to plastic waste and pollution. Technical difficulties, along with extremely unfavorable economics compared to production of new plastics, stopped development on chemical recycling projects fifty years ago. The same technical difficulties and unfavorable economics are also insurmountable barriers to chemical recycling of plastic waste to make new plastic today and will continue to be in the future.

Last Updated: October 12, 2024

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U.S. Chemical Recycling Plant Counter

Name
State

Feedstock
Technology

Status

Design Capacity
(Thousands of Tonnes/Yr)

Notes

Operating at reduced production rate

Lux Research reports that “Nexus Circular has only produced a measly 1,700 tonne of pyrolysis oil after three years of starting operations.” That’s equivalent to 16% of design capacity.   

Chemical Recycling Plant Capacity to Process U.S. Plastic Waste:
0.43%

EU & U.K. Chemical Recycling Plant Counter

Name
Country

Feedstock
Technology

Status

Design Capacity
(Thousands of Tonnes/Yr)

Notes

Chemical Recycling Plant Capacity to Process EU & U.K. Plastic Waste:
0.27%

Information Welcomed: Companies are welcomed to send new information about operating or constructed plants. Please include a link to public data source proving commercial operation or construction completion. Send to: lastbeachcleanup@gmail.com

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